Les Henson Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005530879,00.html Lucky escape for 4-people. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR90 Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005530879,00.htmlLucky escape for 4-people. Les. Must admit its fear of this sort of thing that would make me nervous of LPG. Just wait till we start running round with Hydrogen on board to run our fuel cells!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siggy Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 That would be ok as when hydrogen burns in oxygen (air) water is produced so would therefore put itself out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cartman Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 That would be ok as when hydrogen burns in oxygen (air) water is produced so would therefore put itself out So their gas tank was venting into the car! Very dodgey install! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minivin Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 So their gas tank was venting into the car! Very dodgey install! I suppose if a door or two had of been open and the draft was right, the vented gas could have blown into the car thereby causing the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Must admit its fear of this sort of thing that would make me nervous of LPG. Why? For this to happen, as others have noted, it must have been a very dodgy conversion - done properly it should be safer than petrol. I wouldn't want to be near any car if the fuel ignited, but if I had to I'd rather it was LPG than petrol - LPG rarely explodes (it has to be pretty near the stoichiometric mix), unlike petrol vapour. Instead you get a fireball that burns inwards until the gas cloud is consumed - despite the article describing it as an explosion it sounds to me like that's what happened here (if it really was an explosion I can't imagine anyone could have jumped out in time). According to my father, who's a safety engineer in the oil industry, as long as you hold your breath and close your eyes as the flame front passes you you'll normally just lose some body hair and get a light 'sunburn'. Compare that to getting burning petrol on you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niall_CSK Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 (edited) Why? For this to happen, as others have noted, it must have been a very dodgy conversion - done properly it should be safer than petrol. Granted not the full "article" but thin on facts, rather sensationalist, oh of course it's the SUN, didn't notice till I saw the popup warning about viral emails with a pair of enormous knockers It only takes a couple of botched installations to sour public opinion. Aproperly installed system, even if it leaked would have leaked outside through the double skinned pipe and sealed connection box. What was the source of ignition, maybe the daughter having a fly drag while mother wasn't looking. That they didn't smell it inside the vehicle suggests to me that they have been inhaling it for a long period, LPG will deaden sensitivty to it like that. Having experienced both liquid fires & gas flashes being in the marine & petroleum industry I will choose a gas flash over a liquid fire any day of the week. Edited November 21, 2005 by Niall_CSK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkieB Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 It only takes a couple of botched installations to sour public opinion. A properly installed system, even if it leaked would have leaked outside through the double skinned pipe and sealed connection box. The French aren't allowed to install their own Lpg, as a result of incidents such as the guy who was flame cutting his tank to remove it from the car [possibly not properly emptied either], with obvious consequences. safety-consciousness must be cultural Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Sounds like a test for BRAINIACS Lara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niall_CSK Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 The French aren't allowed to install their own Lpg, I can think of a few other things to add to that list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cartman Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 I can think of a few other things to add to that list If it was down to a choice between an LPG leak and a petrol leak I know which one I would chose. And it would not be the the petrol one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Slightly more detail here; http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news...ast_horror.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diff Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Slightly more detail here;http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news...ast_horror.html From that second article it seems obvious that there was a serious fault with the installation/system. The fact the windscreen blew out and the doors were bent out by the explosion when the driver turned on the ignition key, means that the car must have been full of gas. This suggests that the tank had no sealed vent to the outside at the very least. It also suggests that as well as no sealed vent to the outside, there must have been a considerable leak for there to have been enough gas in the Rangie for cumbustion to take place. I would have thought that the inside of the Rangie must have absolutely stunk of raw LPG, and shouldn't have been started. Sadly, as has been stated, this may be picked up and made a sensationalist story which will (wrongly) put people off LPG. Diff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted November 21, 2005 Author Share Posted November 21, 2005 Well the guy may have smelled gas, but to be fair, when you disconnect the nozzle there's a 'chuff' of gas which you smell if the wind is in the right direction. If a window or door is open when you disconnect, then it's possible the smell would go inside the vehicle. If the system was a DIY install, then it should have been inspected shouldn't it for Insurance purposes? I thought you needed a certificate of installation or something. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nas90 Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Lucky that someone at the next pump was not filling his lawnmower can with unleaded, that would have made the front pages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbarton Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 I think the garage owner deserves a medal for getting the passenger out. I can think safer places than a garage forecourt with a blazing car on it. BTW - do new cars still have flammable upholstery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 If the system was a DIY install, then it should have been inspected shouldn't it for Insurance purposes? I thought you needed a certificate of installation or something. Depends on the insurer - mine (NFU) require a certificate, but I'm told increasing numbers aren't bothering with them. There's nothing 'official' about the certificates anyway, although the LPGA would like you to think otherwise - they're just a trade body. That said, if you go for an LPGA certified garage you know they've at least had some training. If you do it yourself, I think it's only about £25 to get the vehicle checked and certified (that's at least a year out of date and may be trade price, though). Worth it for your own piece of mind, I'd have thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mehetabel Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 Depends on the insurer - mine (NFU) require a certificate, but I'm told increasing numbers aren't bothering with them. There's nothing 'official' about the certificates anyway, although the LPGA would like you to think otherwise - they're just a trade body. That said, if you go for an LPGA certified garage you know they've at least had some training. If you do it yourself, I think it's only about £25 to get the vehicle checked and certified (that's at least a year out of date and may be trade price, though). Worth it for your own piece of mind, I'd have thought. why does the Ladies Professional Golf Association [LPGA] care about propane installations? LPGA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 why does the Ladies Professional Golf Association [LPGA] care about propane installations? LPGA They think it's a gas... Sorry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted November 23, 2005 Author Share Posted November 23, 2005 Sorry... Tut, sorry just doesn't cover it Geoff! Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 Tut, sorry just doesn't cover it Geoff!Les. Well, Bogbuster wasn't around and someone had to keep the standards down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.